Method of and apparatus for managing distributed contents
A method and apparatus for managing contents distributed on a home network are provided. The distributed content management apparatus includes: a content information database processor which aggregates information regarding contents stored in at least one content reproducing apparatus and creates or updates an integrated content information database; and a synchronization processor which performs content synchronization to synchronize the information regarding the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus with contents defined in a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database. The apparatus further includes a content change information receiver which receives changed contents from the content reproducing apparatus if contents information stored in a content reproducing apparatus changes; and a content information database updating unit which updates the integrated content information database to reflect the changed contents.
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This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0012884, filed on Feb. 10, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to content management, and more particularly, to a method of and apparatus for managing contents distributed on a home network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Audio visual (AV) devices for home networks are being widely used. Accordingly, the amount of AV contents created or used in these home networks has increased considerably.
Many contents in a home network are separately stored and used in corresponding devices. Such an environment is called a distributed content environment.
In a distributed content environment in the related art, users must know the locations of the devices in which the respective contents are stored. Also, some AV devices have limitations in their use of the contents. Accordingly, a method for allowing users to search for and use all the contents on a home network through any device is desired.
In a conventional technique, for example, Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0063627, entitled “Apparatus and Method for Displaying a Dispersed Multimedia Data List,” all devices connected to a network are searched for when a user tries to use a device from among the devices, and, if the user selects a device, a multimedia data list stored in the selected device is displayed to the user so that the user can select and reproduce multimedia data of interest. In the conventional technique, a user command transmission or user selection is required in each step, and the user must know the device that stores the multimedia data to be reproduced. Furthermore, whenever a user tries to use the device, a device list, a content list, etc., should be aggregated again, which requires time.
Accordingly, a content management method of continuously managing information regarding contents distributed in various AV devices on a home network to quickly search for the contents and thereby improve a user's convenience, is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONExemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above. The present invention provides a method of and apparatus for managing contents distributed on a home network.
The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program for executing the content management method.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of managing distributed contents, comprising: aggregating information regarding contents stored in at least one content reproducing apparatus and creating or updating an integrated contents information database; and performing content synchronization for making contents-related data stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for managing distributed contents, comprising: a contents information database (DB) processor aggregating information regarding contents stored in at least one content reproducing apparatus and creating or updating an integrated contents information database; and a synchronization processor performing content synchronization for making contents-related data stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database.
The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
The content reproducing apparatuses 201 through 206 can be fixed devices, such as a digital TV 201, a personal video recorder (PVR) 202, a network audio 203, a personal computer (PC) 204, etc., and movable devices, such as a MP3 player 205, a digital camera 206, etc.
The fixed devices may, for example, be connected to the home network through a TCP/IP network-based LAN. The movable devices may, for example, be connected to the home network through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or an interface based on the IEEE 1394 specification.
Referring to
Referring to
The content files 133 and 212 contain contents which can be reproduced by the content reproducing apparatus 200. The content reproducing apparatus 200 stores its own content files 212, and the distributed content management apparatus 100 also stores its own content files 133.
The metadata DBs 134 and 213 store and manage metadata regarding the contents. The metadata can vary according to the type of the contents and the type of an application system. The metadata DB 213 in the content reproducing apparatus 200 stores information regarding its own content files, that is, information regarding local contents. Meanwhile, the metadata DB 134 in the distributed content management apparatus 100 stores information regarding content files stored in all content reproducing apparatuses connected to the home network, as well as a personal content file. Accordingly, the metadata DB 134 stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100 is an integrated content information DB.
The play list DBs 132 and 211 store play lists. A play list is a list of contents that a user wants to reproduce. The user may search for contents of interest whenever he or she wants to reproduce the contents. Alternatively, the user can choose in advance specific contents of interest from a play list, thereby omitting a search process.
The synchronization list DB 131, which is set to synchronize contents-related information with respect to the content reproducing apparatus 200, is stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100 and managed by the distributed content management apparatus 100. The synchronization list DB 131 includes play lists that the user sets for the respective apparatuses.
Detailed exemplary embodiments of the synchronization list DB 131, the play list DBs 132 and 211, and the metadata DBs 134 and 213 will be described later with respect to
The content information DB processor 110 aggregates contents-related information stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 (see
The apparatus management unit 111 registers and manages detailed information regarding content reproducing apparatuses (AV apparatuses) connected to the home network. If a content reproducing apparatus 200 is newly connected to the home network, the apparatus management unit 111 registers information regarding the content reproducing apparatus 200 newly connected. The information regarding the content reproducing apparatus 200 includes an identification (ID) of the content reproducing apparatus 200, the type of the content reproducing apparatus 200, a storage capacity of the content reproducing apparatus 200, etc.
The content information receiver 112 receives contents-related information from the content reproducing apparatus 200. If the content reproducing apparatus 200 is newly connected to the home network, the content information receiver 112 receives information regarding all contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 from the content reproducing apparatus 200 newly connected.
If the information regarding the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 changes, the content reproducing apparatus 200 generates a content information change event and transfers it to the distributed content management apparatus 100. The content information change event is a signal for informing a user that the corresponding contents have changed.
The content change signal receiver 113 receives the content information change event from the content reproducing apparatus 200.
The content change information receiver 114 receives information regarding the changed contents from the content reproducing apparatus 200.
The content information DB updating unit 115 reflects the information regarding the changed contents and updates the integrated content information DB.
If a content reproducing apparatus 200 is newly connected to a home network, a message for informing that the content reproducing apparatus 200 is newly connected to the home network is transmitted (operation S300). Then, the distributed content management apparatus 100 registers information regarding the content reproducing apparatus 200 newly connected (operation S305).
After the information regarding the content reproducing apparatus 200 is registered, information regarding contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 is aggregated (operation S310). The information regarding the contents includes a play list DB 211, a metadata DB 213, etc.
When the content information aggregation is completed, content synchronization is performed on the basis of the aggregated content information. The content synchronization will be described in detail later with reference to
After the content reproducing apparatus 200 is connected to the home network, a change in the contents can occur (operation S320). For example, a new moving image may be recorded in a digital TV 201 (see
If such a change in the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 occurs, the content reproducing apparatus 200 transmits a signal for informing the change in the contents to the distributed content management apparatus 100 (operation S330). If the content reproducing apparatus 200 receives the signal for informing the change in the contents, content information aggregation is again performed (operation S340). When content information is first aggregated, information regarding all contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 is aggregated. However, if a change in the contents occurs, only information regarding the changed contents is aggregated.
After the content information aggregation according to the change in the contents is completed, content synchronization is performed according to the changed contents.
Also, a case where the content reproducing apparatus 200 is disconnected from the home network can occur. At this time, the content reproducing apparatus 200 transmits a signal about network disconnection to the content management apparatus 100 (operation S350). Then, the distributed content management apparatus 100 deletes the information regarding the content management apparatus 200 (operation S360).
Referring to
The content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 stores contents X01, X02, X03, X04, X05, and X11 in a content metadata DB. In these drawings, CID represents a content ID.
Before content information aggregation is performed, information regarding content X01 is stored in advance in the content metadata DB of the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100. However, the location of the content X01, that is, information regarding a content reproducing apparatus at which the content X01 is stored, is stored only in the distributed content management apparatus.
If the content information aggregation is performed, the contents-related information stored in the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 is transferred to the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100 (operation 701 and 702). The distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100 reflects the received contents-related information and updates the content metadata DB. Referring to
Contents-related information stored in the content reproducing apparatus (DEV2) 208 is also transmitted to the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100 (operation 703). Since contents X21, X22, X23, X24, and X25 stored in the content reproducing apparatus (DEV2) 208 are not registered in the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100, the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100 adds the contents X21, X22, X23, X24, and X25 to the content metadata DB (operation 703).
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The play list synchronization unit 121 transmits the extracted play lists P01, P03, and DEF_DEV1 (802, 803, and 804) to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 (operation S820). Accordingly, the play lists P01, P03, and DEF_DEV1 are stored in a play list DB (805) of the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207.
The content file synchronization unit 122 performs content file synchronization for making content files 212 stored in the content reproducing apparatus 200 conform to the synchronized play list (operation S430). The content file synchronization unit 122 extracts content files (that is, a list of contents which must be downloaded to the content reproducing apparatus 207) which are included in the synchronized play list and are not stored in the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 to be synchronized. In this specification, the content files are referred to as download content files.
The content file synchronization unit 122 transmits content files included in a list of the download content files to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 to be synchronized.
First, the content file synchronization unit 122 determines whether the download content files are stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100. If a download content file is stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100, the content file synchronization unit 122 directly transmits the download content file stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100 to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207. If a download content file is not stored in the distributed content management apparatus 100, the content file synchronization unit 122 searches for a content reproducing apparatus in which the download content file is stored. The search operation can be easily performed using the content metadata DB 134. In this specification, the content reproducing apparatus in which the download content file is stored is referred to as a file storing content reproducing apparatus. The content file synchronization unit 122 transmits a file transfer message to the file storing content reproducing apparatus to make the download content file be directly transmitted to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 in order to be synchronized. The file storing content reproducing apparatus receives the file transfer message and transmits the stored download content file to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 to be synchronized.
Referring to
The content file synchronization unit 122 determines whether the content files X06, X07, X08, and X21 to be downloaded are stored in the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100. In the current exemplary embodiment, the distributed content management apparatus (DEV0) 100 stores the content files X06, X07, and X08, however, it does not store the content file X21. Accordingly, the content file synchronization unit 122 detects a file storing content reproducing apparatus in which the content file X21 is stored. Referring to
The content file synchronization unit 122 transmits a file transfer message to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV2) 208. The file transfer message causes the content reproducing apparatus (DEV2) 208 to directly transmit the content file X21 to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207. The content reproducing apparatus (DEV2) 208 receives the file transfer message and transmits the content file X21 (902) to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207.
Then, the metadata synchronization unit 123 performs metadata synchronization for reflecting the result of the content file synchronization to metadata 134 and 213 regarding a synchronized content file (operation S440). The metadata synchronization unit 123 adds a location where a download content file, that is, a location where the synchronized content file is newly stored, to metadata regarding download content files, and transfers the metadata to which the location is added to the content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 to be synchronized. The content reproducing apparatus (DEV1) 207 adds the metadata to which the location is added to the metadata DB 213.
The synchronization processor 120 performs content synchronization in the following case.
First, as described above with reference to
Also, when a synchronization command is received from a user, content synchronization is performed. A user 50 can change and newly set the synchronization list 131 (operation S400). If the synchronization list changes, the user 50 issues a synchronization command (operation S140) for making the distributed content management apparatus 100 perform content synchronization.
In a method and apparatus for managing distributed contents, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a change in contents information for each content reproducing apparatus is recorded as a log file, and a content information change event is generated when the content information changes.
A server (a content management apparatus) receives the content information change event, receives the changed information from the corresponding content reproducing apparatus, and updates a content information DB, thereby maintaining recent information. Accordingly, fast and effective management according to the changed contents may be possible.
Also, users can receive information regarding all reproducible contents on a home network from respective content reproducing apparatuses, and quickly receive and reproduce desired contents using the information.
The present invention may be embodied as a program stored on a computer readable medium that can be run on a general computer. Here, the computer readable medium includes but is not limited to storage media, such as ROMs, RAMs, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optically readable media, etc., which store data readable by a computer system.
In a method and apparatus for managing distributed contents, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when content information stored in a content reproducing apparatus changes, the distributed content management apparatus receives the changed content information from the content reproducing apparatus, and updates a content information DB to maintain recent information, thereby allowing fast and effective management according to the changed contents. Also, uses may receive information regarding all reproducible contents on a home network from respective content reproducing apparatuses, and quickly receive and reproduce desired contents using the information.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A method for managing distributed contents, comprising:
- aggregating information regarding contents stored in a content reproducing apparatus and creating or updating an integrated content information database; and
- performing content synchronization to make contents-related data stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating or updating of the integrated content information database comprises:
- registering information regarding the content reproducing apparatus, if the content reproducing apparatus is newly connected to a network; and
- receiving the information regarding the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus newly connected to the network from the content reproducing apparatus newly connected to the network.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the registering the information regarding the content reproducing apparatus newly connected to the network comprises: storing an ID of the content reproducing apparatus, a type of the content reproducing apparatus, and a storage capacity of the content reproducing apparatus.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating or updating the integrated content information database comprises:
- receiving a signal for informing of changed contents from the content reproducing apparatus in which a change occurs, if the change occurs in the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus;
- receiving information regarding the changed contents from the content reproducing apparatus in which the change occurs; and
- updating the integrated content information database to reflect the information regarding the changed contents.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the content synchronization is performed when the signal for informing the change in the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus is received from the content reproducing apparatus.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the content synchronization is performed when a synchronization command is received from the user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the content synchronization comprises:
- performing play list synchronization to make content play lists stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to the synchronization list;
- performing content file synchronization to make content files stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronized play list; and
- performing metadata synchronization to reflects a result of the content file synchronization in metadata regarding the synchronized content file.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing of the play list synchronization comprises:
- extracting a play list for a content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized, using the synchronization list including play lists from respective apparatuses; and
- transmitting the extracted play list to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the performing of the content file synchronization comprises:
- extracting a list of download content files which are included in the synchronized play list and are not stored in the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized; and
- transmitting content files included in the list of the download content files to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting of the content files included in the list of the download content files to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized comprises:
- determining whether the content files included in the list of the download content files are stored in the distributed content management apparatus;
- detecting a file storing content reproducing apparatus which stores the content files not stored in the distributed content management apparatus among the download content files; and
- transmitting a message to make the file storing content reproducing apparatus directly transmit the content files to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the synchronizing of the metadata comprises:
- adding a location where the synchronized content file is newly stored to metadata for the synchronized content file; and
- transmitting the metadata where the location is added to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
12. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the information regarding the contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus changes, the content reproducing apparatus generates a content information change event.
13. An apparatus for managing distributed contents, comprising:
- a content information DB processor which aggregates information regarding contents stored in a content reproducing apparatus and creates or updates an integrated content information database; and
- a synchronization processor which performs content synchronization to make contents-related data stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content information DB processor comprises:
- an apparatus management unit which registers information regarding the content reproducing apparatus if the content reproducing apparatus is newly connected to a network; and
- a content information receiver which receives the information regarding contents stored in the content reproducing apparatus from the content reproducing apparatus if the content reproducing apparatus is newly connected to the network.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content information DB processor comprises:
- a content change signal receiver which receives a signal which informs of a change in the contents from the content reproducing apparatus in which the change occurs;
- a content change information receiver which receives information regarding changed contents from the content reproducing apparatus in which the change occurs; and
- a content information DB updating unit which updates the integrated content information database reflecting the information regarding the changed contents.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the content reproducing apparatus is a fixed content reproducing apparatus or a movable content reproducing apparatus.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, if the content reproducing apparatus is the fixed content reproducing apparatus, the content reproducing apparatus is connected to a network through a TCP/IP based LAN.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein, if the content reproducing apparatus is the movable content reproducing apparatus, the content reproducing apparatus is connected to a network through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or an interface based on an IEEE 1394 specification.
19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the synchronization processor comprises:
- a play list synchronization unit which performs play list synchronization to make content play lists stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to the synchronization list;
- a content file synchronization unit which performs content file synchronization to make content files stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to the synchronized play list; and
- a metadata synchronization unit which performs metadata synchronization to reflect a result of the content file synchronization in metadata regarding the synchronized content file.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the play list synchronization unit comprises:
- a play list extracting unit which extracts a play list for the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized, using the synchronization list including play lists for respective apparatuses; and
- a play list transmitting unit which transmits the extracted play list to the content reproducing unit to be synchronized.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the content file synchronization unit comprises:
- a download content file list extracting unit which extracts a list of download content files which are included in the synchronized play list and are not stored in the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized; and
- a download content file transmitting unit which transmits the content files included in the list of the download content files to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the download content file transmitting unit comprises:
- a determining unit which determines whether the content files included in the list of the download content files are stored in the distributed content management apparatus;
- a detecting unit which detects an other content reproducing apparatus storing the download content files which are not stored in the distributed content management unit among the download content files; and
- a file transfer message transmitting unit which transmits a message to make the other content reproducing apparatus directly transmit the download content files to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the metadata synchronization unit comprising:
- a metadata adding unit which adds a location where the synchronized content file is newly stored to metadata for the synchronized content file; and
- a metadata transmitting unit which transmits the metadata where the location is added to the content reproducing apparatus to be synchronized.
24. A computer readable recording medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method comprising:
- aggregating information regarding contents stored in a content reproducing apparatus and creating or updating an integrated content information database; and
- performing content synchronization for making contents-related data stored in the content reproducing apparatus conform to a synchronization list set by a user, using the integrated content information database.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 19, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2007
Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. (Suwon-si)
Inventors: Seong-hoon Kang (Suwon-si), Won-ho Ryu (Seoul), Seok-hyun Yoon (Seoul)
Application Number: 11/655,242
International Classification: H04N 5/445 (20060101); H04N 9/79 (20060101); H04N 7/18 (20060101); G06F 13/00 (20060101); H04N 9/68 (20060101); G06F 3/00 (20060101);